FROM SERENA: Important Work by the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

This inspiring young woman has been an excellent student despite living under the threat of deportation.

Dear friends,

I recently attend the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project gala, and it was such a gratifying pleasure to see the positive work that is being done to help our immigrant community.

This statewide non-profit organization promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education. They strive for justice and equity for all persons, regardless of where they were born.

The Municipal League Foundation recently honored the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project with its Organization of the Year Award for its legal services for the poor, education in rights to those facing government power, and advocacy for immigrant families and refugees.

Attendance at the 2017 gala was more than twice that of last year and raised $600,000. I was glad to be able to participate, by becoming a member of the Community Circle for Immigrant Justice by pledging a contribution of $1,000 a year for the next three years.

It really was heartwarming to hear some personal stories of immigrants’ who had been helped, saved really by the NWIRP, including a young woman who had come to the United States as a baby with her undocumented parents and had suffered much hardship, yet became an honors student as well as a University of Washington graduate with a 4.0 GPA, while living under the fear of deportation her whole life!

The NWIRP enabled her to get her green card, just before she turned 18. She now plans to go to law school and become an immigrants rights lawyer.

Did you know? An immigrant who has legal representation is 12 times less likely to get deported.

These folks, many of which are volunteer attorneys, do amazing work!

Jacki and I had a blast supporting the generous and dedicated attorneys who volunteer with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project at their 2017 gala.